Bleach-streaking of hair



Oct. 28, 1958 J. CORTEZ BLEACH-STREAKING OF HAIR Filed Nov. 21, 1956 rfga) United States Patent BLEACH-STREAKING OF HAIR John Cortez, Asbury Park, N. J. Application November 21, 1956, Serial No. 623,603

2 Claims. (Cl. 132-9) This invention relates to the treatment of a portion of the hair on the scalp; particularly when such portion is to be bleached, dyed or otherwise treated apart from the remaining portion of the hair.

Recently, there has been an increasing trend in womens hair styles to bleach a portion of the hair on the head, such as a forelock, a wave, or a section of the hair. Such bleaching has been effected by separating said portion by means of the fingers, placing it on a sponge or other absorbent material, and then applying thereto the bleaching liquid in aliquot applications or dabs until the desired effect is obtained. This method has a number of drawbacks, including the difiiculty in keeping out of the bleaching solution hair which is not to be bleached, the necessity of keeping the operator on the work until all of the bleaching is efiected, the constant replacement of absorbent materials to insure that the liquid bleach soaking through will not attack hair on which it is placed, the difficulty of accurately treating the portion of hair down to the hair roots, the burning of the scalp by the bleach, as well as many other difiiculties.

The present invention avoids all the aforesaid difiiculties and efiects further advantages, as will be apparent from the description of the invention which is to follow.

Broadly, the invention involves the use of a thin flexible membrane in the shape of a waterproof cap, or a cap having a waterproof hair-covering area. This cap is provided with a penetrable depression having a penetrable bottom, said bottom having an area of the size and shape of the portion of hair to be treated at the desired location and through which bottom locks of hair may be pulled out with a hook or other hair-withdrawing means. The depression also has a side portion, from an edge of which latter there extends a movable flap or other enclosure means normally covering said depression, in which normally covered depression the treating solution (such as the bleach) may be contained, and in which solution the withdrawn locks may be packed to soak for the required treating time. Thereafter, the treated hair on the thus-covered head may be rinsed under a faucet to insure washing out of the treating solution, and the cap removed, leaving the hair with the bleaching operation accurately and neatly eflected.

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the drawing in which Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of a cap made according to the present invention being worn by the person, a portion of whose hair is undergoing treatment. Figure 2 shows an enlarged section of said cap with the flap open to expose the penetrable bottom of the depression through which locks of hair are being drawn out with a hook. Figure 3 depicts a cap portion, similar to that shown in Figure 2, with the hair locks about to be treated with solution and prior to covering the treated hair with the covering flap. Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Referring again to the drawing, numeral 1 represents a tightly-fitted cap made of a thin sheet rubber, plastic, or other flexible membranous material impermeable to the treating solution employed. This cap is provided with a penetrable depression 3 having an area of size and shape required and disposed at the desired location for the hair portion to be treated. This area 3 is provided with self-sealing fine perforations 4 through which locks 2,857,917. Patented Oct. 28, 1958 of hair 6 maybe pulled out by means of a crocheting hook 5 or other suitable implement. In View of the fact that bleach tends to burn the scalp, it is desired that the hair be withdrawn out of the penetrable bottom of the depression so that there is minimal danger of contact of the solution with the scalp. One manner of achieving this is to coat the bottom portion of the membrane of depression 3 with a self-sealing rubber compound. The upper surface of depression 3 may be marked with identations simulating perforations 4 so that a hook 5 may be used to pierce through the self-sealing layer to pull out the desired lock of hair, thus minimizing greatly the contacting of the scalp with the bleach.

Attached to one edge of a side portion of depression 3 is a flap 2 large enough to cover depression 3. Flap 2 and depression 3 may be large and flexible enough to serve as a pocket or storing means in which the gathered locks of hair may be packed for treatment, as in Figure 3. When all of the hair to be bleached is packed under flap 2, this hair is soaked by application of the treating solution, such as a bleach. Thereafter, the person whose hair is undergoing treatment is allowed to wait while the locks of hair covered by flap 2 are being subjected to the bleaching action. After the required bleaching time has elapsed, the covered head may be placed under a faucet, flap 2 raised to expose the treated hair, and the treated hair washed efiectively without wetting or disarranging excessively the untreated hair under the cap. Thereafter, the cap is removed and the hair is dried, leaving a neatly and accurately-eifected bleached streak or area.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention is not limited to any shape, size or form, or location of covered depression in the cap, which is dependent to a great extent upon the prevailing styles and customer demands. Any number of such covered depressions may be disposed on the cap as long as sufficient space exists. Also, although fine perforations are mentioned, narrow slits or similar openings may be employed, the purpose being to employ a highly restricted opening when the hair is withdrawn, with respect to the remaining hair which is not to be treated, so as not to unnecessarily expose any scalp area. Also, although the flap is shown to be integral with the cap, it is within the purview of this invention to employ a plastic or metal cover which may be inserted, snapped or fastened over the depression by means of suction cups or otherwise in order to hold in place the hair locks to be treated. Although a plain cap may be employed, it is desirable to use a cap on which the desired hair style is embossed and on which the proper hair color is applied and the bleached hair portion shown as it would appear on the person after the bleaching operation has been completed.

I claim:

1. A cap for treating with a treating solution a portion of the hair of the scalp, said cap comprising a flexible membrane resistant to the action of said solution and fitting closely over the scalp, said membrane having a depression therein the bottom of which is penetrable so that locks of hair may be withdrawn therethrough by means of a pointed hook and stored therein for treatment, said depression also having a side portion, and a movable flap extending from an edge of said side portion and normally covering said depression.

2. A cap as defined in claim 1 in which said bottom is made of self-sealing material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,411,994 Hellman Dec. 3, 1946 2,575,589 Glick Nov. 20, 1951 2,618,274 Nell Nov. 18, 1952 2,818,074 Mach m... DEC. 31, 1957 

